Economic DevelopersÂ’ Council of Colorado Presents Annual Achievement Awards
The Economic Developers’ Council of Colorado (EDCC) recently presented its annual achievement awards at the organization’s Annual Awards Luncheon held in conjunction with its Spring Conference in Burlington. The “EDie Awards” recognize outstanding achievement in economic development by honoring individuals, businesses and communities throughout the State of Colorado. The following details the criteria and winners in each award category.
(PRWEB) April 15, 2005
The Economic Developers’ Council of Colorado (EDCC) recently presented its annual achievement awards. The “EDie Awards” recognize outstanding achievement in economic development by individuals, businesses and communities throughout Colorado. Winners include:
Company of the Year
Company of the Year is presented to a company that demonstrates support for economic development through financial and leadership participation and active engagement in community issues, as well as a significant expansion or investment during the year. The 2004 Company of the Year Award was presented to Frontier Airlines, which has made financial and time contributions to several hundred organizations.
Frontier started with 180 employees and two planes and is now the second largest carrier at Denver International Airport, with an average of 225 daily system-wide departures and arrivals serving 23 of the top 25 destinations from Denver. Frontier is the only major airline headquartered in Colorado.
Small Community of the Year
Small Community of the Year is presented to a community under 20,000 in population that demonstrates support for economic development through an organized economic development program and strong leadership, illustrating long-term planning and investment in the development of the community through infrastructure planning, permanent economic development funding and strategies. Realization of a special project or development is also a criterion. The 2004 Small Community of the Year is the Town of Eads in Kiowa County.
Eads works actively with the Arkansas Valley Marketing Alliance to establish itself as a community in search of expansion for its citizens. The town was awarded a $22,000 scholarship by "Your Town" for the re-creation of downtown. They are near completion of the Sand Creek Massacre site and are working actively on a marketing coalition project. Eads is also actively involved with CRDC and Action 22 on tourism and economic development efforts.
The acquisition of the 800-acre Jackson Property will continue to create economic opportunities for Eads and Kiowa County. Efforts to plan how the property might best be utilized have included many areas and groups within the community and county. Working with elected officials, businesses and area youth has established a human capacity and formula for success that would be difficult to top anywhere.
Large Community of the Year
The award for Large Community of the Year is presented to a community over 20,000 in population that demonstrates support for economic development through an organized economic development program and strong leadership. The community must also illustrate long-term planning and investment in the development of the community through infrastructure planning, permanent economic development funding and strategies. Realization of a special project or development is also a criterion. The 2004 Large Community of the Year is the City of Brighton.
Brighton has provided an incentive package of nearly $8.2 million for a new Adams County campus for county services and has been forward-thinking in contributions to make FasTracks become a reality in Brighton. Brighton found the funding to improve its major highway intersection to downtown without state support. It has made great strides in water purchases and has aligned itself with other regional communities to provide water solutions, including a storage lake completed and filled in 2004.
Brighton has also demonstrated small-town values, opening six new neighborhood parks last year. In working to retain jobs, it negotiated an Intergovernmental Agreement with the county to build a new multi-office complex, ensuring that the city remains the county seat. Finally, because community is also about providing services and amenities for its residents, they broke ground on a 14-acre development through a unique public/private partnership between the City, the Urban Renewal Authority, the Economic Development Corporation and RTD. It is the first retail development to center around a Park-n-Ride transit project and is a model for the Denver metro area.
Volunteer of the Year
EDCC has the option to recognize an outstanding, "non-practicing economic development professional" volunteer who has demonstrated a multi-year commitment to the vitality, growth and sustainability of the economy. This year's recipient is Bob Mattucci with Kiewit Construction.
Mattucci is currently volunteer Chairman of the Board for the Jefferson Economic Council, Chair of the Transportation Committee, on the Board of Governors for the Southeast Business Partnership, on the board of the Adams County Economic Development Partnership and a part of the Denver International Airport Partnership. He has been very involved with FasTracks and T-REX. He is a member of the College of Engineering Dean's Advisory Council for Colorado State University.
Rookie of the Year
Rookie of the Year is presented to an economic development professional that has been in the profession at least one year, but not more than three years. Nominees are recommended for exceptional work on a specific project or issue, demonstrating ability or leadership usually limited to a veteran practitioner.
The 2004 EDCC Rookie of the Year is Meghan Harris Russell, Executive Director for the Trinidad-Las Animas County Economic Development Organization. Her accomplishments include initiation and creation of the www. tlac. net Web site, development of plans for an outside community assessment, collaboration in initiating a cooperative project with the SBDC and Trinidad State Jr. College to perform a Business District Inventory; successfully coordinating the sale of the last lot in Phase I of the Trinidad Industrial Park, and many others. She is an Ambassador for the Chamber, a member of the Trinidad SCORE and Jr. College Tech Prep Advisory Board; secretary of the Southern Colorado ED District and a board member of EDCC.
Economic Development Achievement Award
The Economic Development Achievement award is the highest honor presented to an economic development professional in Colorado. Nominees must have been a practicing professional in Colorado for at least five years. They must exhibit personal professional development through advanced education or professional certifications, and must have accomplished economic development success in their community or organization through job growth, capital investment or redevelopment. They must further the development of the profession in Colorado through involvement in regional or state economic development organizations and work to promote the importance of the profession and its purpose by utilizing press coverage of economic development issues and events, providing educational opportunities to non-economic development organizations and elected officials.
The 2004 Economic DevelopersÂ’ Council of ColoradoÂ’s (EDCC) Economic Development Achievement award winner is Hazel Hartbarger with the Arvada Economic Development Association and Arvada Urban Renewal Authority, where she has served as Deputy Director for 12 years. Hazel has been instrumental in the success of community assessments for rural communities and is an active member with the Colorado Community Revitalization Association (CCRA). She is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute and volunteers with organizations such as Historic Olde Towne Arvada and the ChildrenÂ’s Hospital Foundation Courage Classic. She recently received a special award from the Arvada Chamber of Commerce and has initiated many successful programs in Arvada, including JobLINK, PropertyLINK, various business forums and ArvadaÂ’s annual business appreciation event. She also is responsible for ArvadaÂ’s nationally recognized business retention program.
About the Economic DevelopersÂ’ Council of Colorado
The Economic DevelopersÂ’ Council of Colorado (EDCC) is a membership organization dedicated to furthering the stateÂ’s economic development success through professional education and legislation. For more information on EDCC, visit our website at www. edcconline. org.
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